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Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources • Oklahoma State University
EPP-7081
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets
are also available on our website at:
http://osufacts.okstate.edu
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Tanya C. Franke
Research Associate
Kathleen D. Kelsey, Ph.D.
Professor
Tom A. Royer, Ph.D.
Professor & IPM Coordinator
Acknowledgement
Funding for this guide was made available by the Oklahoma State University IPM Program.
Cotton represents a significant row crop for Oklahoma growers. Cotton is grown predominantly in southwestern Oklahoma. Acreage devoted to cotton production has slightly declined during the past 10 years, averaging 234,000 acres planted during 1996 through 2000 and declining to an aver­age of 225,000 acres planted from 2001 through 2005. Yields have increased, averaging 458.4 pounds per acre during 1996 through 2000, and increasing to an average of 625.4 pounds per acre during 2000 through 2005 (NASS, 2006). For instance, cotton acres in Kay County (north-central Oklahoma) increased from 600 acres in 1995 to more than 6,400 acres in 2005 (NASS, 2006). In 2006, producers harvested 220,000 acres of cotton, which produced an average yield of 805 pounds per acre. The top five counties for cotton production included Jackson, Tillman, Harmon, Caddo, and Comanche Counties.
A self-administered mailed survey was developed (Dill­man, 2007) by T. Franke and K. Kelsey in consultation with OCES faculty who had expertise in entomology, plant pathol­ogy, and plant and soil sciences. The objective of this survey was to identify pest management needs of Oklahoma cotton producers and use the information to guide Oklahoma State University’s research and Extension programs in addressing their most critical needs. The survey asked Oklahoma cotton producers to report information regarding their production management practices in regards to soil fertility, insects, and weeds. The population for the study consisted of 1,900 Oklahoma cotton producers in 2006 and the sample consisted of a randomly stratified sample (n = 320). Eighty (80) of the 320 surveys were returned (25 percent response rate). Cu­mulatively, the 80 respondents grew cotton on 53,309 acres in 2006 (averaging 666 acres per respondent) representing about 17 percent of the total cotton grown. It should be noted that 2006 was a severe drought year, following several drought years, which may have affected the responses to the survey.
Pest Management Needs Assessment for Oklahoma Cotton Producers
Findings
The issues identified by respondents of greatest concern with growing cotton are listed in Table 1. Additional issues listed by respondents are listed in Table 2.
Table 1. Top concerns with cotton production identified by Oklahoma survey respondents.
High Moderate Low No
Issue Concern Concern Concern Concern
Weeds 76.1% 18.5% 3.3% 2.2%
Harvest 65.2% 31.5% 2.2% 1.1%
Fiber quality 60.2% 30.7% 4.5% 4.5%
Soil fertility 55.4% 39.1% 4.3% 1.1%
Insects 55.4% 35.9% 6.5% 2.2%
Diseases 38% 38% 21.7% 2.2%
Table 2. Other concerns identified by Oklahoma survey respondents.
Issue (1 each)
2, 4-D damage
Marketing and loan
Yield (marked high concern)
Hormone herbicide drift damage
Irrigation
Fertilizer banding equipment
Nematodes (economical control)
Seed cost
Yield numbers per acre
Weeds
Respondents identified weeds as the top issue with grow­ing cotton. They listed pigweed (f = 62) as the most frequent weed problem, followed by Johnsongrass (f = 50), and morning glory (f = 45) (Table 3). Table 4 notes the herbicides used by respondents to treat weed problems in cotton during 2006.

Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources • Oklahoma State University
EPP-7081
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets
are also available on our website at:
http://osufacts.okstate.edu
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Tanya C. Franke
Research Associate
Kathleen D. Kelsey, Ph.D.
Professor
Tom A. Royer, Ph.D.
Professor & IPM Coordinator
Acknowledgement
Funding for this guide was made available by the Oklahoma State University IPM Program.
Cotton represents a significant row crop for Oklahoma growers. Cotton is grown predominantly in southwestern Oklahoma. Acreage devoted to cotton production has slightly declined during the past 10 years, averaging 234,000 acres planted during 1996 through 2000 and declining to an aver­age of 225,000 acres planted from 2001 through 2005. Yields have increased, averaging 458.4 pounds per acre during 1996 through 2000, and increasing to an average of 625.4 pounds per acre during 2000 through 2005 (NASS, 2006). For instance, cotton acres in Kay County (north-central Oklahoma) increased from 600 acres in 1995 to more than 6,400 acres in 2005 (NASS, 2006). In 2006, producers harvested 220,000 acres of cotton, which produced an average yield of 805 pounds per acre. The top five counties for cotton production included Jackson, Tillman, Harmon, Caddo, and Comanche Counties.
A self-administered mailed survey was developed (Dill­man, 2007) by T. Franke and K. Kelsey in consultation with OCES faculty who had expertise in entomology, plant pathol­ogy, and plant and soil sciences. The objective of this survey was to identify pest management needs of Oklahoma cotton producers and use the information to guide Oklahoma State University’s research and Extension programs in addressing their most critical needs. The survey asked Oklahoma cotton producers to report information regarding their production management practices in regards to soil fertility, insects, and weeds. The population for the study consisted of 1,900 Oklahoma cotton producers in 2006 and the sample consisted of a randomly stratified sample (n = 320). Eighty (80) of the 320 surveys were returned (25 percent response rate). Cu­mulatively, the 80 respondents grew cotton on 53,309 acres in 2006 (averaging 666 acres per respondent) representing about 17 percent of the total cotton grown. It should be noted that 2006 was a severe drought year, following several drought years, which may have affected the responses to the survey.
Pest Management Needs Assessment for Oklahoma Cotton Producers
Findings
The issues identified by respondents of greatest concern with growing cotton are listed in Table 1. Additional issues listed by respondents are listed in Table 2.
Table 1. Top concerns with cotton production identified by Oklahoma survey respondents.
High Moderate Low No
Issue Concern Concern Concern Concern
Weeds 76.1% 18.5% 3.3% 2.2%
Harvest 65.2% 31.5% 2.2% 1.1%
Fiber quality 60.2% 30.7% 4.5% 4.5%
Soil fertility 55.4% 39.1% 4.3% 1.1%
Insects 55.4% 35.9% 6.5% 2.2%
Diseases 38% 38% 21.7% 2.2%
Table 2. Other concerns identified by Oklahoma survey respondents.
Issue (1 each)
2, 4-D damage
Marketing and loan
Yield (marked high concern)
Hormone herbicide drift damage
Irrigation
Fertilizer banding equipment
Nematodes (economical control)
Seed cost
Yield numbers per acre
Weeds
Respondents identified weeds as the top issue with grow­ing cotton. They listed pigweed (f = 62) as the most frequent weed problem, followed by Johnsongrass (f = 50), and morning glory (f = 45) (Table 3). Table 4 notes the herbicides used by respondents to treat weed problems in cotton during 2006.